PORT TOWNSEND — Port Townsend artist Andrea K. Lawson has been commissioned to create a painting that will be permanently displayed at Camano Island Library after installation this autumn.
Camano Island is located to the northeast of Port Townsend between Whidbey Island and mainland Washington state.
Lawson’s painting, consisting of nine acrylic painted panels arranged on a background grid, will be located in the library’s reading room.
The library is located at 848 N. Sunrise Blvd.
Lawson’s painting, she said, depicts a human brain, and was chosen from work submitted by three finalists who entered their work for a chance at permanent display in the library.
The theme of the contest, Lawson said, was science.
After exploring several scientific fields for inspiration, Lawson said she chose to concentrate on the brain because it “controls our cognitive processes, our physical movements and even our memories.”
On another level, she continued, “it relates to the library, reading and brain development. Our brains give us the ability to think at a high level and to create, which distinguishes us as human beings.”
Lawson said each of the nine panels in the painting represents different aspects — parts and views of the brain seen at different levels of magnification.
“On closer view the gestural paintings describe various functions of the brain inspired by scientific exploration and brain imagery, such as glial cells, potassium ions, a dendritic spine, hippocampus, neocortex, the retina and transmission of neurons on the molecular level,” Lawson said.
Lawson’s paintings and prints have been exhibited nationally and in Europe.
Locally, her art currently is on display at Uptown Dental, 642 Harrison St. in Port Townsend.
The building is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information about Lawson, visit www.andreaklawson.com.
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Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
